The Beginning:
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, recounts a troubling dream and calls for wise men to interpret it, but none can provide an answer. Daniel is brought in, and the king describes a great tree in the midst of the earth that grew immense and visible to the ends of the earth, providing food and shelter for many.
The Middle:
In the dream, a “watcher,” described as a holy one, commands that the tree be cut down, leaving only the stump bound with iron and bronze. The decree declares that the subject’s mind will be changed from human to animal and that “seven times” will pass over him, so that the living may know that the Most High rules over kingdoms and gives them to whom he will. Daniel explains that the tree represents Nebuchadnezzar and his vast dominion, and that the judgment means the king will be driven from human society to live like an animal until he acknowledges God’s sovereignty. Daniel urges the king to break with wrongdoing and show mercy, in hope of relief from the announced judgment.
The End:
About twelve months later, while Nebuchadnezzar boasts over Babylon and credits his own power and majesty, the sentence is fulfilled: he is humbled, loses his sanity, and lives in a beast-like condition until the appointed time passes. When his understanding returns, he lifts his eyes toward heaven, blesses the Most High, and acknowledges God’s everlasting dominion. His royal honor and kingdom are restored, and he publicly praises God as righteous and able to humble the proud.
This account highlights God’s sovereignty over rulers and empires, showing that human power is accountable to the “Most High” who grants authority and can remove it. The judgment is not merely punitive but aims at revelation—so that the living recognize God’s rule—and it leads to restoration when Nebuchadnezzar acknowledges God’s supremacy. Within the Exile setting, the story encourages displaced Judah that Babylon’s might is not ultimate; God remains king over history and can humble imperial pride while preserving his purposes.
In ancient Near Eastern royal ideology, kings often portrayed themselves as divinely favored world-rulers, and monumental building projects were publicly celebrated as proofs of legitimacy. Daniel 4’s emphasis on a king boasting in his achievements fits this cultural context, while the tree symbol echoes common ancient imagery of a ruler or kingdom as a life-giving tree that shelters peoples under its branches.
“Those who walk in pride he is able to humble.” — Daniel 4:37
Answer the questions below. When you choose an option, you will see the result and an explanation.
1. In Nebuchadnezzar's dream, what was commanded to be left after the great tree was cut down?
2. What did Nebuchadnezzar do when his understanding returned after the appointed time?